When it comes to painting a car, any automotive professional will tell you the same thing: it all comes down to preparation. Whether you're repairing a scratch or repainting the entire car; Preparation for painting is just as important as applying the paint and plays a big role in the quality of the end result. That's why you should plan at least ninety percent of the time you plan for the painting project to prepare. Basically, you can expect two days of work to paint a normal car.
To help you prepare like a pro, we'll walk you through some practical tips on washing, sanding, priming and choosing the right paint for your car's new look to achieve a truly professional result.
Preparation
Your car needs to be as clean as possible. We recommend a visit to the car wash (make sure not to use hot wax!) and then carefully touch it up by hand.
Then dismantle everything that is attached to the outside of the vehicle and can be removed (lights, indicators, antenna, trim, washer nozzles, hubcaps, windshield wipers, if necessary. door handles).
The discs do not need to be removed.
Your work area should be dust-free and clean. A garage or carport is ideal so that you can work despite the rain. Alternatively, it is best to set up a pavilion.
Taping off
Now carefully tape off all surfaces that are not to be painted. Crepe tape is suitable for this. Windows including rubber should also be masked. Garbage bags, for example, are practical for this.
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Sanding involves removing the top layer of car paint using abrasives.
As one of the most important parts of painting preparation, it is worth investing time and working carefully. Depending on the task, sanding can be done either with sandpaper or with an electric orbital sander, although you will need to use different types of paper depending on your car.
If you plan to strip paint from the car body, use 400 and 600 grit sandpaper.
You should make sure that there are no shiny spots left on the body of the car, otherwise the primer and paint will not stick. Avoid sanding down to the sheet metal. Danger! The paint is usually applied thinner on corners and edges.
Dust sources should then be removed.
Clean/descale/degrease the surface thoroughly (silicone cleaner is ideal for this) and then rinse the surface with water. Then let the surfaces dry.
Important: Do not use soapy cleaners or scouring milk. (These are made from fatty acids and are therefore not suitable for dissolving fat.)
Painting
Now paint the surface. Laying newspaper around the car will prevent paint from dripping onto the floor. We recommend two thin coats to get the best result. The paint must dry completely before the second coat. You can also work with a paint roller . Start at the roof of the vehicle.
Let the paint dry out completely (approx. 12 hours).
The last step is to remove the masking tape and reattach the removed car parts.
Your car's new paint job is ready! For optimal shine, polish the car afterwards.
Find your car paint today! We offer you a large selection of high-quality car paints.
When using, please note our Instructions for use.
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